Compare towns
Braintree vs Chesterfield vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Braintree | Chesterfield | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
3,622Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Braintree and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Chesterfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.